ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
(SHRI JAGAT PRAKASH NADDA)
(a) to (e) : A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.
STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO LOK SABHA
STARRED QUESTION NO.96* FOR 8TH FEBRUARY, 2019
(a) In order to effectively eradicate leprosy, several measures are being implemented under National Leprosy Eradication Programme (NLEP) since 2016 in a phase wise manner. These include (1) three pronged strategy for early case detection including a) Leprosy Case Detection Campaign (LCDC) in high endemic districts, b) Focussed Leprosy Campaign (FLC) in endemic villages/ urban areas of low endemic districts and c) Special plan for active case finding in remote and difficult areas, (2) Sparsh Leprosy Awareness Campaign (SLAC), (3) Grade II disability case investigation and (4) Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHA) based Surveillance for Leprosy Suspects (ABSULS).
(b) As per Rural Health Statistics 2018, there is a shortfall of 3673 doctors at Primary Healthcare Centre (PHC) level. (Extract placed at Annexure I)
(c) & (d) No . During the last three years after introduction of the above noted measures, NLEP India is moving ahead to achieve the target set by World Health Organisation (WHO) to be achieved by 2020.
The measures have given the needed impetus to programme and as a result of the same surveillance data shows that the Grade II disability has significantly declined. The Grade II disability per million which was 4.48/ million population as on 31st March, 2015 has decreased to 2.47/ million population (annualized) as on 30th November, 2019 against the target of G2D <1 case/ million population provided by WHO’s Global Leprosy Strategy (GLS), 2016 – 2020 to be attained by year 2020.
(e) To eradicate leprosy from the country, the Government has been implementing the NLEP. Key interventions under the programme include –
• Three pronged strategy for early case detection given in response to part (a) of the question.
• Free drugs
• Incentives to ASHA for case detection and treatment completion
• Activities for stigma reduction
Further, in order to control discrimination against Persons Affected by Leprosy (PAL), Government has launched the Sparsh Leprosy Awareness Campaign (SLAC) wherein Nation-wide special Gram/ Ward Sabhas are being organized as an annual activity since 2017, on 30th January, to spread awareness regarding leprosy and reduce stigma pertaining to the same. In addition, various intensive Information Education and Communication (IEC) activities are being conducted at various administrative levels as a routine, to sensitize the community and reduce stigma pertaining to leprosy.
The Lepers Act, 1898: The enactment of the Lepers Act, 1898 was based on the then prevailing knowledge about leprosy, the means available for its treatment and control and the age-old stigma attached to the disease. It was considered that the disease was incurable, that all persons affected are infectious and it is essential to restrain their movement and prohibit leprosy patients from following certain trades and doing certain acts. The Act made provisions to prevent spread of the disease to others. In the light of recent scientific advancements, the concept about leprosy as regards its causation, spread, infectivity and treatment has undergone a radical change. Now, Leprosy is completely curable when treated with Multi-Drug Therapy (MDT). In view of the same, Lepers Act was repealed as a whole in 2016.
Recently, a bill seeking to remove leprosy as a ground for divorce was passed by Lok Sabha in January, 2019. The bill seeks to remove leprosy as a ground for divorce in five personal laws i.e., 1) Hindu Marriage Act, 2) Dissolution of Muslim Marriages Act, 3) Divorce Act (for Christians), 4) Special Marriage Act and 5) the Hindu Adoptions and Maintenance Act. The Bill was introduced in Lok Sabha in August, 2018 with Law Commission report wherein it was recommended to repeal laws and provisions which were discriminatory against leprosy affected people.
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